After 97 years, All People’s United Church in Sudbury’s Donovan neighbourhood will hold its final service this weekend. On Thursday, members of the congregation laid out photos and newspaper clippings in preparation for Saturday’s final service. Mona Campbell, who has been coming to the church for 65 years, said she was married there and it’s where her children were baptized. “It’s the people. You get into groups and you belong to the choir,” Campbell said. “It’s just, familiar and the people here have been so good.” She is a part of the small congregation who had been keeping the church running. “You have all kinds of emotions,” Campbell said. “At my age, I’m kind of looking forward to relaxing a little bit and not being so involved and so on, but it’s sad.” David Chuipicka is a board member, trustee and licensed lay worship leader at the church. He said there were a number of reasons that led to its decision to close. “We’re at the point that the numbers were dwindling and we have an older congregation,” Chuipicka said. “We’re down to less than 10 people and they’re a dedicated group. They’re very loving group. They work really hard, but they’re tired.” Chuipicka said a number of churches are experiencing similar challenges, with changing demographics and family dynamics. “Sundays were the quiet time, there was nothing open. And so going to church was just kind of what people did. It was part of their culture,” he said. “But now the competitions of, you know, single parents and also parents who are both working weekends have become like gold.” He said the church had its formal final service in January but then wanted to invite the community. “We all felt that we wanted to give the community one last chance to come and see this church, because many people have been married here, baptized here,” Chuipicka said. “It’s got a long history.” The church was built in the 1920s and experienced a devastating fire in 1946 that destroyed the building. At the time, there was uncertainty that it would be rebuilt, but community support and the reverend at the time worked hard to make it happen. Chuipicka said it’s been a hub of activity throughout the years. “They had girl groups, groups for young men, groups for men,” he said. “A lot of fundraising (to help) a lot of organizations worldwide. We were really big on supporting children, including giving nets and bedding to kids in Africa and those kinds of things.” Chuipicka recalled attending the church as a child. He was asked to read scripture when he was eight years old. “You’re up there and you know, you’re shaking and after it was over, the church was over,” he said. “Everybody came up, shook my hand, patted me on the back. I felt really good, you know?” Chuipicka said there have been hundreds of weddings and thousands of services held at the church over the decades. “It’s a real sense of family. (It is) where people get together and share their lives. So, I have a lot of good memories.” Chuipicka said the building will eventually be put up for sale by the Canadian Shield Regional Council. There is hope, though, that another mission will take over. “It would be nice if another church bought it,” he said. “Because then maybe we could come back and, you know, sit and experience it again.” The final service will be held April 25 at 11 a.m., followed by a free lunch.
